Copperheads named south division champs

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Sunny South News

Coaldale Copperheads

The Coaldale Copperheads for the second consecutive season have triumphed the south division league title.

In fact, this marks the Copperheads third division title in five years which is remarkable for the organization as a whole.

Their twelve season is not quite complete, as the Snakes still have bigger items on the agenda. League finals would be on the schedule next.

They will face the north champion Airdrie Thunder who finished first overall in regular season play. Both teams were successful games winning on the road against each during the season so the jury is out on who will take the league championship. In fact, the Copperheads were the first team to win the Thunder after they were on a twenty plus winning streak. Airdrie will have home advantage in the best of five final series.

Schedule will be as follows: GM 1 in Airdrie on Friday, March 22 at 8 p.m.; GM 2 in Coaldale on Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m.; GM 3 in Airdrie on Tuesday March 26 at 8 p.m. If needed: GM 4 in Coaldale on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. and GM 5 on Sunday in Airdrie, time to be announced as of printing deadline.

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Recap of the south final against the Cochrane Generals finished with the Snakes winning 4 games to 1 to close off the series.

The fifth game “Cheads in Five” was taken on home ice in front of the Copperheads dedicated home fans. The Copperheads seemed to take control for the most part of the game despite being down three key players.

Affiliate players Tristan Miller and Ryden Rempel from Taber joined the mix and did a phenomenal job for rookies. Goaltender Nolan Berner throughout the prior Med Hat semifinals and this series was without a doubt there to “win it.” He has been a dedicated & focused. This season will be Berner’s final one in the HJHL, and he’s putting on a clinic.

Helping to earn the win were much needed goals from Jedd Horvath to start with in the first period. Jayden Bexte and Jared Bainbridge each had talented goals in the second. Local boy Chase Williamson scored the Copperheads fourth in the early third and the crew held their ground for a 4-2 victory.

Prior to puck drop the league sent an executive to Coaldale to present captain Levi Anderson with honors of winning the league prestigious award for “Sportsmanlike Player of the Year”. This award was nominated and voted on by all the other fourteen teams in the league.